Third-country deportees: Jamaica confirms DHS memorandum as US talks draw opposition criticism

Jamaica is holding talks with the United States on taking third-country deportees. The plan would add Jamaica to other countries backing the Trump administration’s immigration approach. National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said Jamaica signed an agreement with the US Department of Homeland Security. The arrangement would allow regular transfers if both sides finalise terms.

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Dr Horace Chang said Jamaica could receive up to 25 people every two weeks. The people would come from countries other than Jamaica. Chang said the arrivals would not go to detention. Officials have not decided where the group would stay. Jamaica and the US are still discussing compensation for accepting them.

Jamaica third-country deportees plan and US agreement

Chang said Jamaica must accept the return of Jamaican citizens under international law. Chang said the new plan differs from repatriation of nationals. "However, this new arrangement does not mean third-country nationals are being dumped on our shores. This is a structured, managed process to transit individuals through Jamaica to their final destination,\" Chang said.

If completed, Jamaica would join Mexico, El Salvador, Uganda and other states. These countries have accepted migrants deported from the US to third countries. The US Department of Homeland Security did not reply at once to a request for comment. The planned Jamaican intake is limited and scheduled, Chang said.

Jamaica third-country deportees talks face Opposition PNP criticism

The Opposition Peoples National Party, or PNP, criticised the discussions. The party said the government kept talks from the public. The PNP said the plan could threaten internal security and strain social support. It also warned of harm to Jamaica’s international standing. The criticism increased political pressure in Kingston.

\"Jamaicans deserve to know whether discussions have taken place and whether any commitments or understandings have been reached,\" Donna Scott Mottley, a spokesperson for the opposition, said in a statement. The party called for more clarity on what Jamaica promised. It also asked what safeguards would apply to any arrivals.

Jamaica third-country deportees debate grows amid wider Caribbean deals

The dispute in Jamaica reflects wider divisions across the Caribbean. Several governments have quietly made varying deals with the US. Some aimed to avoid travel limits or economic penalties. The Dominican Republic signed a non-binding plan to hold a small number. It covered non-criminal third-country nationals, and barred unaccompanied minors and Haitians.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit backed a similar approach. Roosevelt Skerrit said it was practical to protect relations with Washington. Roosevelt Skerrit also said violent offenders would be rejected. Antigua and Barbuda took a stricter case-by-case line. Prime Minister Gaston Browne said a framework would cap acceptances at 10 non-criminal people.

Guyana is linking talks to its labour needs from the oil boom. Officials are exploring a US-funded framework to accept skilled, non-criminal migrants. The goal is to address an estimated shortage of 80,000 workers. Critics said such deals can shift migration burdens to smaller states. Supporters said they can bring bargaining power with the US.

Jamaica third-country deportees policy scrutiny after Orville Etoria case

As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration used secret agreements. Third Country Deportation Watch said these deals moved more than 19,000 people to third countries. The group said most were sent to Mexico. It said over 1,500 were sent to more than 20 other nations. Some reportedly arrived in countries they had never heard of.

Human rights advocates pointed to the case of Orville Etoria. Etoria, a Jamaican citizen, lived in the US for almost 50 years. Etoria arrived as a child in 1976. Etoria’s green card was revoked after a criminal conviction. Instead of being sent to Jamaica, Etoria was deported to Eswatini in July 2025.

After arrival in Eswatini, Etoria and four other third-country nationals were detained. Reports said they lost due process and faced indefinite detention. They were held at the Matsapha Correctional Complex, a maximum-security prison. After two months, Jamaica’s government intervened through diplomacy. Etoria was then repatriated to Jamaica.

A US federal district court later ruled against the third-country removal policy. In February 2026, the court said the US cannot send migrants to undesignated nations without notice. Even so, the policy is still being applied while appeals continue. Against this backdrop, Jamaica’s possible agreement remains under scrutiny at home.

With inputs from PTI